Provost's Circumvention of Academic Policies & Procedures

SENATE RESOLUTION OBJECTING TO THE PROVOST’S
CIRCUMVENTION OF ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Meeting of the Academic Senate, April 22, 2008

WHEREAS, the Senate, through its committee on Academic Programs and Policies (APPC) is charged with oversight of matters directly related to curriculum;

WHEREAS, the Senate granted provisional approval for a pilot Critical and Visual Studies (CVS) program in the Spring of 2005, specifying a set of conditions to be fulfilled, including submission of curricular material in Spring 2006;

WHEREAS, the Senate emphasized that the approval was conditional, and made as an exception to the regular course review process; and upon expiration in May 2006, the CVS program was required to submit course material for another ratification and final approval; and

WHEREAS, the Provost on February 6, 2006, unilaterally granted approval - without review of curricular content - for the CVS pilot program to continue beyond the expiration deadline specified in the APPC’s provisional approval (see attachment A1);

THEREFORE, this 22nd day of April, 2008; it is

RESOLVED, that the Senate strongly objects to the Provost’s unilateral action of circumventing standing procedures and granting approval without review of curricular content; demonstrating disregard of the conditions set forth in the Senate’s provisional approval; and it is further

RESOLVED, that the Senate calls upon the Provost to ensure adherence to standing curricular review policies and procedures.


Amendment To Provide Context

WHEREAS, the above Resolution is in response to the April 18th request by the Provost for the Senate to respond directly; it is therefore

RESOLVED, That the Provost’s emails on this matter be included as an attachment to the Resolution (see Attachment A2)
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On 4/18/08 8:23 AM, Peter Barna wrote:

Dear Vice President Sullivan and Academic Senators:

I take significant offense at the Academic Senate’s inappropriate, threatening, unfounded and inflammatory claim that:

the Provost's insistence on reducing the legitimate role of the senate by redefinition or disregard can lead to further inconsistencies and conflicts within the curriculum, between programs as well as noncompliance with accreditation agencies.

I would hope that the Senate will reconsider its statement, and look forward to a direct response from the Senate in that regard.

Peter

Peter Barna, Provost
Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Ave. Main 1
Brooklyn,NY 11205
718-636-3744